The Legendary Detective Catches All the Criminals - Chapter 168



Only Noblemtl

◈Episode 168◈

Operation Water Ghost

-This is breaking news. At a subway station in Seoul······.

– A biochemical attack has occurred, believed to be a terrorist attack. The casualties continue to rise······.

– They are being transferred to hospitals across the country. It is currently believed that it is not North Korea’s doing······.

-The National Intelligence Service is known to have arrested and is investigating a terrorism suspect.

-Nothing has been revealed yet about his identity or the purpose of the attack. The joint civilian-government-military investigation headquarters is considering urging citizens to refrain from going out and even martial law in preparation for additional terrorist attacks······.

Convenience store near the National Intelligence Service.

Kim Han-gyeol said while watching the news.

“It blew up in the end.”

“If there’s an idiot at the top, that’s what happens.”

“Whose decision is it?”

Shin Dae-seong answered while eating cup ramen.

“A person who never wants to let the Creator live.”

“Isn’t that Detective Shin?”

“There must be someone who is similar to me, but different.”

Kim Han-gyeol shook his head with a regretful expression.

“It’s absolutely the worst… They don’t even have a count of the casualties.”

“I think our country’s medical system is amazing. The power of the biochemical weapon that the Creator detonated is incredible. The speed of transmission between infected people is incredible. It would be shameful to give a reward for this level of damage.”

“We have been trained by Corona. We are world-class in terms of tracking infected people.”

“The problem doesn’t end here.”

“Are you going to blow it up again?”

Shin Dae-seong said while drinking ramen broth.

“The SWAT team only caught the Creator.”

“Are you saying that Song Yu-jeong and the guards who escaped are going to detonate another bomb to save the Creator?”

“Why was only the Creator caught?”

“Because the SWAT team was only targeting the Creator. Isn’t that right?”

“I think I was caught on purpose······.”

Kim Han-gyeol reacts by saying he doesn’t understand.

“Why did you get caught on purpose? If you commit a terrorist act and get caught, it’s over for you.”

“The biochemical weapon that exploded this time has a unique characteristic.”

“What is that?”

“There is a cure.”

“Could it be that he’s trying to negotiate using the cure as bait?”

“This is not a negotiation, but a unilateral demand. The NIS doesn’t have many cards to play.”

“Don’t we have nothing else to do?”

“I told you last time. If you cause a big accident, you’ll leave the cleanup to me.”

“Is now the time?”

Shin Dae-seong answered after emptying the cup of ramen.

“No one can defeat the Creator in psychological warfare. Eventually, he will come to me for help.”

“Why don’t you just help him? His actions are worse than the Creator’s. He has to clean up his own mess.”

-Tink, tink.

The convenience store door opened and Shin Soo-ah came in.

“Did you eat cup ramen?”

“Yeah, because I ate a bad dinner······.”

Kim Han-gyeol said with a dumbfounded expression.

“Do you know how expensive that restaurant is?”

“I feel empty when I eat Western food.”

Shin Soo-ah said as she approached.

“Are you going to ask me to buy you some sushi?”

“I like ramen with soup······ What about the investigation into Kang Han-guk, the true identity of the Creator?”

“The preliminary investigation is over. He is a completely upright man. He has no criminal record and is well-received by those around him. He is smart and good at studying, but he is not a genius.”

“He probably went unnoticed. He was good enough to make a perfect fake video 20 years ago.”

“My parents passed away when I was in high school. They were in a car accident where they collided with a truck while driving a sedan.”

“What happened to the truck driver who caused the accident?”

Shin Soo-ah answered while looking at the data on the tablet PC.

“He was released after serving a three-year sentence. He is now said to have immigrated to the United States and is running a laundry shop.”

“The truck driver is still alive?”

“Yes, that’s what it says on the record.”

“Ask the United States to cooperate and meet him in person to confirm. Given the nature of the Creator, he would not have let him live.”

“Okay. And what about the investigation into the guards? I heard the National Intelligence Service is now in charge.”

“We know them best. Tell them to keep pursuing them.”

* * *

National Intelligence Service Special Investigation Office.

The Creator did not seem like a person who had committed a crime and been arrested.

He spoke to Manager Lim with a relaxed smile.

“In the next 24 hours, if you don’t listen to my demands, another bomb will explode.”

“If you give me the cure, I will listen to your demands right away.”

“Do I look like I’m negotiating now?”

“······.”

“If it were detective Shin, he wouldn’t have made an arrest like this. He would have taken care of Song Yoo-jung and the guards so that I couldn’t move. Who would have handled things so stupidly?”

“South Korea does not negotiate with terrorists.”

“I am not a simple terrorist. I am a god-like being who governs life and death.”

“It’s crazier than I expected······.”

“I just changed my mind.”

“what?”

The Creator spoke, bringing his face close to Manager Im.

“I think I gave you too much time. From now on, the bombs will continue to explode every two hours. If you want them to stop, the President himself must promise to meet my demands.”

“Are you kidding me······. Do you think that kind of threat would work here? The President is not that idle.”

“It seems like you still don’t understand the situation. Do you think I’ll just end it with threats?”

It was a time when Manager Lim felt ominous.

-dripping.

A NIS agent came in with a knock.

He glared at the Creator and whispered to Manager Lim the news he had just heard.

‘The second bomb has exploded.’

“!”

‘The explosion site is Hongdae, and the emergency rooms in Seoul are now full.’

Manager Lim answered, hiding his surprise.

‘What is the exact number of victims?’

‘It’s not certain yet. Right now, we’re focusing on finding a hospital and getting them transferred.’

‘Thank you for your hard work. Let me know if the situation changes.’

When Manager Lim took his seat, the Creator asked.

“What’s the news? Was there a second explosion in Hongdae?”

“What are you doing? Do you know how many casualties you caused?”

“You should speak properly. It’s not because of me, but because of your superiors. Didn’t you arrest me because you were confident that you could handle the consequences?”

“······.”

The Creator spoke with a serious expression.

“It’s not too late even now. You have to accept my demands to reduce casualties. Otherwise, I don’t know how many people will die. I’ve prepared plenty of bombs. They’ll explode again in two hours.”

“There are too many things you ask for that I can’t grant!”

“It’s probably because the shit line hasn’t burned yet. The third explosion will cause mass casualties.”

“If this continues, we won’t be the only ones who get hurt.”

“How? Are you trying to torture me?”

Manager Lim also answered with a serious expression.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to save countless lives.”

“The National Intelligence Service’s torture didn’t work on me. Could it be that I did something like this without any such resolve?”

“I will consider your request positively, so don’t make any more victims.”

“No, if you don’t listen to my demands, the number of victims will continue to increase uncontrollably. I could kill all the citizens of Seoul.”

“······.”

* * *

Convenience store near the National Intelligence Service.

Kim Han-gyeol finished the call and spoke to Shin Dae-seong.

“A bomb exploded in Hongdae.”

“Where exactly did the bomb explode?”

“It’s the biggest club in Hongdae. The damage to young people was huge. If we don’t get a cure, there will be a huge death toll.”

“What’s worse is that it doesn’t seem like it’ll end here. Call Manager Lim.”

“Are you Director Lim of the National Intelligence Service?”

“Yeah, please tell me what the situation is.”

Kim Han-gyeol called right away.

But the call only rang and Manager Lim did not answer the phone.

“It seems like you’re not answering on purpose. Should I try calling again?”

“No, let’s wait a bit and then do it.”

“What are you waiting for?”

-Jiying.

“I got a text from Manager Lim. He said that the Creator detonates a biochemical bomb every two hours.”

“So there’s less than two hours left until the next explosion?”

“Yes. The Creator must have gone completely crazy.”

-Jiying.

“I got another text, the third one saying there will be a mass death toll. What do I do?”

“We just have to do what we can to prevent the next explosion.”

“How? The investigative authority has been transferred to the National Intelligence Service.”

“The command has been transferred, but it’s not like we can’t investigate. Where do you think the next explosion will occur, Detective Kim?”

Kim Han-gyeol responded with a dumbfounded expression.

“Don’t you know? If I knew, would I just stay still?”

“Tell the other detectives that this explosion happens every two hours, and tell them to try to predict where the next explosion will occur.”

“As Detective Shin said, I will try to contact you. But how can I find out in such a short amount of time······.”

A little while later, Kim Han-gyeol sent a group text message.

-Zeeing, zeeing, zeeing, zeeing.

Responses from detectives in the unsolved cases unit began to come in.

“Detective Hwang said it would be Yongsan, and Team Leader Choi said it would most likely be Jamsil. Detective Han······ said it would definitely be a place where a lot of people gather.”

“I think the same as Detective Han.”

“But are there only one or two places like that in Seoul?”

“The Creator knows where it is.”

“I can’t tell you that······! Detective Shin, you just have to get inside that guy’s head. But we’re excluded from the investigation······.”

“This is not something that can be resolved no matter how hard we try. If we keep talking nonsense from above, we will never recover.”

-Tiring~ Tiring~

“This is Manager Lim calling.”

Kim Han-gyeol quickly switched to speakerphone.

“Yes, this is Kim Han-gyeol from the Unsolved Cases Unit.”

-Is Detective Shin next to you?

Shin Dae-seong responded.

“Please speak.”

-Can you come to the National Intelligence Service investigation room now?

“What is the matter?”

-It’s because of the Creator’s third bomb. I think Detective Shin can figure out where it is.

“The Creator’s inner thoughts are difficult to understand.”

-That’s why I’m asking you, Detective Shin. Don’t you know him better than anyone else?

“I refuse.”

-yes?

Kim Han-gyeol was also surprised.

‘Detective Shin, why are you refusing?’

‘I told you before. If you keep talking nonsense up there, you’re finished.’

Manager Lim asked in a bewildered voice.

-Why do you want to refuse?

“Give me full authority to investigate and command. I don’t want to be fooled around by the nonsense of my superiors any more.”

-I know how you feel. But now is not the time to change the chain of command.

“It’s not about changing, it’s about restoring the original state. Don’t you know that the higher-ups interfered and tangled things? If you don’t accept my conditions, I won’t cooperate.”

Manager Lim let out a sigh that felt like the ground was collapsing.

-Ah~ Why are you even doing this to Detective Shin? Even the Creator alone would make my head explode.

“I have clearly stated my conditions. If you are not willing to fully accept them, then do not contact me.”

Shin Dae-seong unilaterally hung up the phone.

Kim Han-gyeol opened his mouth with a worried voice.

“Detective Shin······ Aren’t you being too harsh? If you continue like this, the entire unsolved case unit could suffer disadvantages due to the crime of contempt.”

“Then this case is completely hopeless. I’m not a saint. I have no intention of serving in the army and saving the country.”

-Tiring~ Tiring~

“This is Manager Lim calling. Hello?”

-I will accept Detective Shin’s conditions. Come here as quickly as possible.

“Okay, I can be there in 10 minutes.”

-That quickly?

* * *

In front of the National Intelligence Service Special Investigation Office.

Shin Dae-seong asked Manager Lim.

“How did you convince your superiors? It must not have been easy.”

“I said that if Detective Shin’s demands are not met, I will resign as well.”

“It’s a water ghost operation.”

“Isn’t it fine as long as it’s effective? Come on in. I’ll be watching from the monitor room.”

-Squeak.

Shin Dae-seong and Kim Han-gyeol opened the door to the investigation room and entered.

“!”

The Creator looked at Shin Dae-seong with a surprised expression.